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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #418100
Research Project: Broadening and Strengthening the Genetic Base of Rice for Adaptation to a Changing Climate, Crop Production Systems, and Markets

Location: Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center

Title: Understanding blast resistance through overexpression of the Pita-2 gene in rice

Author
item PONNIAH, SATHISH - University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff
item MUTETHIA, REGHAN - University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff
item Jia, Yulin

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2024
Publication Date: 9/9/2024
Citation: Ponniah, S., Mutethia, R., Jia, Y. 2024. Understanding blast resistance through overexpression of the Pita-2 gene in rice. Abstract. 2024 International Symposium on Rice Functional Genomics, September 9-11, 2024. Little Rock/Stuttgart, Arkansas.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Rice blast disease caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is the most severe fungal disease affecting global rice output by 10% to 30% per year. The development of resistant varieties has been demonstrated to be the most low-cost, effective strategy to control the disease. Resistance genes (R) harbor tremendous allelic diversity, constituting a robust immune system effective against microbial pathogens. Once the rice is attacked, the recognition receptors on the cell surface specifically recognize pathogen-associated molecule patterns (PAMPs) and active defense response by cell wall modification and expression of a defense-related protein in a host cell called PAMPs triggered immunity (PTI). R genes in rice, including Pi-ta, Pita-2, and Ptr, confer resistance to a wide range of blast races including IB-49 except the race IB-33. A candidate for R gene (LOC_Os12g18374) nearby Pi-ta named Pita-2 was identified on rice chromosome 12. The study aimed to overexpress the Pita-2 gene in the rice-Nipponbare cultivar to determine if enhanced resistance can occur in transgenics expressing Pita-2. The rice calli developed from seeds were infected with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 containing the Pita-2 gene. The presence of the Pita-2 gene in T1 plants was determined with gene-specific and hygromycin primers. Disease reactions of the confirmed T1 plants were evaluated with the blast races IB-49 and IB-33. The role of Pita-2 for rice blast resistance will be presented.